Despite English not being their first language, Sweden’s Moonbabies have managed to find an onomatopeaic name and are going places with it. Perhaps the Moon is a little ambitious but with their songs finding their way onto popular US shows like Gray’s Anatomy these purveyors of soulful, acoustic driven indie-pop are sure to find a reasonabale amount of success as they embark on a promotional tour for their third album.

Formed in 1997 by core members Ola Frick (Vocals, Guitar and misc. Instruments) and Carina Johansson (Vocals & Keys) they have risen up from their beginnings in shoegazing noodlings to a charming and calculating electro-fied indie band, producing songs full of brightness and texture that leave you feeling good about life.

Their tour is aimed at promoting their latest album, Moonbabies at the Ballroom, which was released today in America on Star Tracks. From the couple of tracks I’ve heard it’s going to be well worth getting hold of. Soaring anthemic music, driven by the pivotal boy-girl voices which when combined with pounding drums and a haze of guitars and electronica blips combines to give something that both makes you feel like the Moon is in reach, but that has a heart very much rooted down here on Earth.

Their songcraft is quite beautiful and everything is deeply romantic, sweeping you up into a whirlwind that only lets you go when the final guitar has ceased to ring. During its finest moments it is like the lighter side of a Stars album, though it is far from being all upbeat, for on closer inspection are to be found lyrics that wrestle with the common traits of the human condition. On lead single War On Sound Carina sings:

I found it hard / but i tried / to tell you last night
The planet’s grown / turned to stone / see you on the safe side?

It makes you believe that this is the safer side – a comfort in sound that could easily find a space in my record collection soon. In the meantime have a sample track from the album.

Take Me To The Ballroom | Website | Myspace | Star Tracks

Photo credit: Andreas Larsson

Technorati tags: music, indie, mp3, moonbabies

Success! Now that I’ve reduced Monday’s New Music to an acronym I can get away with posting on a Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday because really, will anyone remember what MNM means in a couple of weeks?

Anyway, current favourite listening is a band from Athens, Georgia (though you can instantly dismiss R.E.M. comparisons) called Venice is Sinking. They have a distinctly British sound with a slightly archaic feel from the violin through to the seafaring imagery they have adopted around their name.

Their music is melodic and gentle, with lush production and beautiful vocal performances from both Daniel Lawson (also guitarist) and violinist Karolyn Troupe whose voices bob and weave through each of their tracks. Despite only having released an EP and an LP (2006′s Sorry About The Flowers) their approach is confident and refreshingly individual.

Their strongest track is Pulaski Heights which encroaches more into the uplifting indie rock that bands like Hope of the States and Fields have been playing in Britain recently. A pulsating beat and layer upon layer of guitars, strings and choral ahhhs make it a particular joy to listen to.

Their music conjures up images of watching big skies retreating behind your ship as you sail towards a brave new world. It’s comforting but also filled with a certain amount of arm-wide wonder which definitely leaves you wanting more. Thankfully word is that after a hectic time of touring they’ve just returned to the studio to work on their second LP.

Venice Is Sinking – Pulaski Heights

Technorati tags: veniceissinking, indie, music, video